When rescuers arrived, Darling didn't even hesitate to get on the truck that would take her far away from the riding camp.

"When I saw Gaew Ta walk onto the truck very easily I was very surprised," Lek Chailert told The Dodo in a statement. "Normally we found the most difficult part of rescue elephant is to walk them to the truck."

Sadly, it turned out that Darling was used to being trucked around: She was transported to a local restaurant each evening to greet the diners there.

But the rescuers from Phuket Elephant Sanctuary hoped that Darling had a sense that this time would be different. Her rescuers surrounded her on the hour-long journey to her new home, helping to keep her calm.

When she finally arrived, her previous trainer helped lead her off the truck and into a stream where her feet could feel the cool water. It was probably the first time in many years that Darling had felt such a sensation.

"She needs to slowly find her way around the sanctuary then we will introduce her to the other elephants. However, I'm sure they've all been talking as she's next to Kannika and Madee in the night shelters," Rogerson said.